Electus grandis. - Wagler.

Electus grandis, Wagler, Mon. Psitt. in Abhand. etc. pp. 495, 472. - Psittacus grandis, Kuhl's Consp. p. 38, No. 50. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 116, sp. 112, var. B - Psittacus janthinus, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 90, sp. 24 - Peroquet grand Lori, (male), Le Vaillant, Tab. 126. - Lori de la nouvelle Guinee, Buff. Pl. Enl. 683. - Grand Lory, Lath. Syn. i. p. 275, sp. 81; Shaw's Zool. viii. p. 533, pl. 80.

This elegant species, which exceeds the Amazons Parrot in size, is a native of the Moluccas and New Guinea. In appearance, and the colour of its plumage, it approaches the larger lories, a resemblance also indicated by the name given to it by Latham and others. The bill is black, with the culmen of the upper mandible rounded; the nostrils placed at the base of the bill, and concealed from view; the eyes yellow, and the ophthalmic region entirely clothed with feathers. The head and upper neck are of a rich crimson red; the lower neck, breast, belly, and upper part of the thighs, are lilac purple; the mantle, back, scapulars, wing-coverts, and upper tail-coverts, rich scarlet, with a purplish tinge. The flexure of the wings, and outer webs of the quills, are azure blue; the vent and apical fascia of the tail yellow.

The next group indicated by Wagler is that of Psittacodis, the principal character of distinction consisting in the want of the tooth or angular process on the upper mandible. The members belonging to it are also natives of Asia and Australasia, and the Psitt. magnus, Psitt. Paragua, Psitt. Sumatra-nus, and Psitt. tarabe, Auct., belong to it. A third group is that of Pionus, which embraces a variety of species belonging to Asia, Africa, and America, and which, judging from the difference of geographical distribution, it is likely may require still further division. In the form of the tongue and feet, it agrees with the genus Psittacus proper, but the tail is comparatively shorter, the wings longer, and, when closed, in many species extending beyond the tip of the tail. The head is large, and the body short and thick. An example of this group is Le Vaillant's Pionus.